Does "George" Exist?

[Monty]

So, OPer; have you visualized “George” pulling his head out of his rectum? Did it work?

[Sam_Stone]

Geez, I hate to give ‘George’ any potential ammo at all, but does anyone remember a study done a few years ago involving basketball free-throws? I think it was even peer reviewed.

Anyway, some researchers took some volunteers and separated them into three groups. The first group was sent home and told to come back in a week. The second group was told to visualize themselves throwing free-throws accurately. The third group actually practiced free throws.

At the end of the process, the three groups were brought back in and tested. The group that did nothing but visualize throwing successful free-throws scored markedly better than the control group that did nothing. But they didn’t beat the guys that practiced.

Anyone remember this?

Visualization practice is regularly used by athletic trainers, although I’d be happy to accept that it results in nothing more than increased focus and confidence.

[Czarcasm]

So the equation so far is Nothing<Visualization<Everything Else? How often in life is “Nothing” the only choice available?

[glee]

*Originally posted by Sam Stone *
The group that did nothing but visualize throwing successful free-throws scored markedly better than the control group that did nothing. But they didn’t beat the guys that practiced.

This is interesting, although the effects of confidence (and practice) on yourself are already documented.
The point of magic is to affect others.

[Amedeus]

*Originally posted by Sam Stone *
**Geez, I hate to give ‘George’ any potential ammo at all, but does anyone remember a study done a few years ago involving basketball free-throws? I think it was even peer reviewed.

Anyway, some researchers took some volunteers and separated them into three groups. The first group was sent home and told to come back in a week. The second group was told to visualize themselves throwing free-throws accurately. The third group actually practiced free throws.

At the end of the process, the three groups were brought back in and tested. The group that did nothing but visualize throwing successful free-throws scored markedly better than the control group that did nothing. But they didn’t beat the guys that practiced.
[snip]

**

How many times did they do this? One group, or multiple groups? If it was just one group, I can guarantee that it was not a valid, peer reviewed study. Multiple groups would show that it was the visualization that was responsible rather than a very good baskeball player in the group by chance.

[Monty]

*Originally posted by JayAndrewAllen *

{Bolding provided by Monty}

Exsqueeze me? I tried myriad similar techniques for close to a year and a half, Usurer, and my life was no measurably better or worse for it. If anything, it was worse, as the time I would have spent writing poetry, studying Japanese, boning up on number theory, etc., was wasted fumbling about in a haze of incense.

Jay,

Heck, you’d be halfway there if you had boned up on Number Theory. Remember what the magic(k) touters said about Mathematics in the other thread? Math is just another religion to 'em. Sad, very sad.

[Fenris]

Just a quick update: No glowy red werewolf eyes yet, but I’m giving “George” 'till I wake up. I can’t believe that “George” would let me down.

Further updates later.

Fenris

[Fenris]

Final result: Eyes still normal. I’m gonna kick George’s lazy ass. If he can teleport cars around, changing two little bits of pigmentation shouldn’t be a problem. Slacker.

Dammit Usurer, I did exactly what you said and I didn’t get werewolf eyes. You berated us for not trying the George technique, I did and got diddly-squat. I want an explaination. And DON’T tell me I didn’t really want it.

Fenris